Chinese hackers targeted email systems of US congressional staff, people familiar say

The incident adds another chapter in a storied history of China’s cyber attempts to nab sensitive data from U.S. government systems.

Chinese hackers targeted the email inboxes of staff working in several House of Representatives committees, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

The people declined to disclose details of specific committees affected because an investigation into the intrusions is early and ongoing. They requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. 

The Financial Times first reported details of the hacking attempts and said committees including foreign affairs, intelligence and armed services were impacted. FT said Salt Typhoon, a Chinese state-aligned hacking group that gained infamy in 2024 for its hacks into telecom systems around the world, was responsible for the House breaches. 

Nextgov/FCW could not independently confirm whether Salt Typhoon carried out the intrusions. China manages a swath of ...